Veneer lathe



y 1966 G. F. MOLYNEUX 3,252,488

VENEER LATHE Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 5 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR. GROVE? l: N01. YNEUX ay 24, 1966 G. F. MOLYNEUX VENEER LATHE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 5, 1959 mw Wm.

Em W m T 5 T R A m 0 H M United States Patent 3,252,488 VENEER LATHE Grover F. Molyneux, Painesville, ()hio, assignor to The Coe Manufacturing Company, Painesville, @hio, a corporation of Ohio Continuation of application Scr. No. 850,687, Nov. 3, 1959. This application Sept. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 303,588 2 Claims. (Cl. 144-2il9) The present invention relates to veneer lathes and more particularly to a veneer lathe comprising hydraulically operated concentric pairs of spindles for holding the log to be cut. This application is a continuation or a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 850,687, filed November 3, 1959, entitled, Veneer Lathe, the specification and drawings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved veneer lathe including two coaxial power rotated spindle quills each having two concentric spindles carried thereby and provided with chucks of different diameter for holding the log to be out or peeled and simple and reliable fluid pressure actuated means for reciprocating the spindles carried by one or both of the spindle quills to engage the chucks carried thereby with a log to be cut or peeled to maintain selected chucks in engagement with the log during the cutting operation, and to release the core log.

Another object of the invention is the provisionof a novel and improved veneer lathe of the character referred to and having a plurality of pairs of concentric chucks adapted to hold alog to be out which chucks are carried on adjoining ends of aligned concentric spindles rotatably supported in the lathe frame in combination with simple and reliable means including electric controlled pressure fluid actuated means of the reciprocable piston type for reciprocating the spindles and selectively moving the respective pairs of chucks into and out of engagement with the log and for holding the chucks in engagement with r the log during the cutting operation.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a veneer lathe embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view with portions in elevation taken approximately on the horizontal central plane through the left-hand spindle as the lathe is viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view approximately on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic system of the lathe with the spindles in the relative position which they occupy when the lathe is viewed from the front or operators side, and

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical control circuits for the lathe.

The invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a more or less conventional lathe and only those parts of the machine which are necessary toa complete understanding of the invention are shown and described. The parts of the lathe not shown and described per se form no part of the present invention and are well known in the art.

The veneer lathe shown in the drawings comprises a frame, designated generally by the reference character 3,252,438 Patented May 24, 1966 "ice A, including a rectangular base 10 having upstanding end members 11 and 12 adjacent to opposite ends thereof. The frame A shown is of built-up construction and the upper parts of the end members 11 and 12 are separately formed and bolted to the lower parts to facilitate manufacture and assembly of the lathe. A conventional knife, knife bar and pressure bar assembly, designated generally as 15, and located intermediate the end members 11, 12 is movably and adjustably supported therebetween in the usual manner.

The log to be cut is adapted to be supported between two pairs of chucks 20, 21 and 22, 23 detachably fixed to adjacent ends of axially aligned con-centric pairs of spindles 24, 25 and 26, 27, respectively. The outer spindles 24, 25 are tubular and the inner spindles 26, 27 are located therein. The chucks 20, 2 1, which are carried by the t-ubularspindles 24, 25 are larger than the as viewed in FIG. 1, are similar in construction to the chucks 2 2, 23 carried by the inner spindles 26, 27 and are so constructed that the smaller chucks 22, 23 may be retracted or drawn flush with the larger chucks 2t), 21. The construction is such that either or both pairs or chucks may be employed to hold a log to be cut. Each pair of chucks is adapted to be selectively moved lengthwise to engage and disengage the chuck carried thereby with opposite ends of the log.

The spindles 25, 27 at the right-hand end of the lathe,

spindles 24, 26 at the left-hand end of the lathe and are supported, reciprocated and driven in a similar manner. Because of this only the left-hand end of the lathe, which is the end shown in FIG. 2, will be described in detail, with the understanding that the opposite end of the lathe is similar thereto in construction. The corresponding parts, except for the end member 12, the chucks 21, 23 and the spindles 25, 27 are designated by the same reference characters-with a prime mark *afiixed thereto.

The outer spindle 24 at the left-hand end of the lathe is slidably supported intermediate its ends in bearing members 30, 31 fixedly secured to opposite ends of a spindle sleeve or quill 32 rotatably supported in the end member not the frame A by anti-friction bearings 33, 34. The spindles 24, 26 are keyed to the spindle sleeve or quill 32 by an elongated key located in a slot or aperture in the spindle quill and projecting through an elongated slot or keyway 41 in the spindle 24 and into an elongated keyway 42 in the inner spindle 26. The radially outer end of the key 40 projects through a short slot 46 in the spindle sleeve or quill and into a keyway 43 in a driven wheel 44 by which the spindle sleeve or quill 32 and in turn the spindles 24, 26 are rotated upon rotation of the drive Wheel 44. The drive wheel 44 is fixedly secured to the spindle sleeve or quill 32 by-being slipped or assembled thereover from the right and bolted or otherwise secured to a radial flange 45 on the spindle sleeve.

The left-hand end of the spindle 24 has a portion of reduced diameter upon which a ring 51 is secured by a nut member 52 to provide an external flange through I which the spindle can be reciproca-ted by a yoke member 53 comprising a central boss=like portion into which the left-hand end of the spindle 24 projects. The right-hand side of the boss portion of the yoke member 53 is counterbored for the reception of an anti-friction type thrust bearing 54, the left and right-hand races 55, 56 of which are positioned in the bottom of the counterbore and adjacent to the left-hand face of the ring or flange 51 respectively. The opposite or right-hand face of the ring or flange 51 is engaged by a ring 57 bolted to the yoke member 53. The ring 57 holds the thrust bearing 54 assembled with the yoke member 53 and the construction is such that the ring 51 is free to rotate within the yoke member. a

The yoke member 53 also comprises two oppositely extending projections 60, 61 to which the piston rods 62, 63 of reciprocal-type fluid pressure operated motors C, D, respectively are connected. The cylinders 64, 65 of the motors C, D, are carried by a bracket or housing 66 bolted to the frame member 11. The motors C, D are of commercial construction and are not herein shown or described in detail. Suffice it to say that the motors may be employed to reciprocate the spindle 24 and in turn the chuck carried thereby. The housing 66 is also provided with longitudinal guides, not shown, for the projections 60, 61.

As previously mentioned, the inside spindle 26 is located within the larger outside spindle 24, and left-hand end thereof is connected by a suitable thrust bearing to the right-hand end of the piston rod 73 of a fluid pressure motor E connected to the left-hand end or side of the bracket 66 between the motors C, D and in line with the spindle 26. The left-hand end of the piston rod 73 projects into the'cylinder 75 of the motor E and has the piston 76 of the motor fixedly connected thereto. The right-hand end of piston rod 73 projects through the yokelike member 53 and into the left-hand end of the spindle 24 where it is connected by the thrust bearing assembly to the left-hand end'of the spindle 26. The piston rod 73, cylinder 75 and piston 76 therein constitute a reciprocating-type double acting fluid pressure actuated motordesignated generally by the reference character E for reciprocating the spindle 26. The arrangement disclosed permits the use of commercially available fluid pressure motors for the motors C, D, and E and facilitates alignment of the parts and otherwise simplifies the construction of the lathe.

The thrust bearing assembly for connecting the righthand end of the piston rod 73 to the spindle 26, like the thrust bearing assembly for connecting the piston rods 62, 63 to the spindle 24, per se, forms no part of the present invention. Suflice it to say that the bearing shown comprises a cup-shaped member 80, the open end of which faces toward the right as viewed in FIG. 2. The right-hand end of the member 80 is threaded onto the left-hand end of the spindle 26 and the left-hand end of the member is provided with an inwardly projecting flange which overlies the left-hand side of a disk 81 detachably bolted to the right-hand end of the piston rod 73. Radially positioned anti-friction roller bearings 84 interposed between suitable races which abut the right-hand side of the disk 81 and the left-hand end of the spindle 26 completes the thrust bearing assembly. The roller bearings 84 together with the provision of the required clearance between the rotatable spindle and the stationary piston rod 73, disk 81 and left-hand bearing race permits free rotation of the spindle 26 relative to the piston rod 73, etc.

Pressure fluid, preferably oil, for operating the motors C, D, E and C, D, E at opposite ends of the lathe and in turn the spindles 24, 26 and 25, 27 at opposite ends of the lathe is, in the embodiment shown, supplied from motor driven pump 85 of commercial construction and are preferably of the constant pressure, variable volume type. The inlet or suction side of the pump 85 is connected by a conduit 86 to an oil reservoir or sump 87 and the discharge or pressure side of the pump is connected by a conduit 88 to four solenoid operated three-position fourway valves 90, 91, 92 and 93 normally spring biased to their off positions. The valves referred to are connected to the fluid pressure motors C, D, E, C, D, E and to the sump 87 by suitable conduits hereinafter referred to. The circuitry for controlling the operation of the valves 90, 91, 92, 93 may be such that the valves can be operated independently of one another by suitable push button switches or the valves 90, 93 for controlling the reciprocation of the larger spindles 24, may be operated together. In like manner the valves for controlling the reciprocation of the smaller spindles 26, 27 may be operass i ated together, etc. In the preferred embodiment shown herein both pairs of spindles are caused to move toward the center of the lathe simultaneously. The separate pairs of spindles, however, are retractable separately. Overriding push buttons are also provided'to permit independent movement of the spindles. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the operating arrangement shown.

Assuming that the spindles are in their retracted position and that a log to be cut has been placed in position therebetween both pairs of spindles and in turn the chucks carried thereby are caused to move toward the log by the operator depressing the all chucks in push button switch to close its normally open contacts 101, 102 and 103, 104. The closing of contacts 101, 102 establishes a circuit from the line 105 through wire 106 and operating solenoid 107 of relay 108 to line 110. The energization of the operating solenoid 107 of relay 108 actuates the relay to close its normally open contacts 111 and establish a circuit from the line 105 through wire 112 and operating solenoids 113, 114 of valves 90, 93 to line 110. The operating solenoids 113, 114 are in parallel circuit with one another and the energization thereof shifts the valves 90, 93 to the right and left respectively connecting the pressure supply conduit 88 to the conduits 115, 116 leading to the left and right-hand ends, that is, the outer ends of the motors C, C, and D, D, respectively, and the conduits 117, 118 connected to the opposite or inner ends of the motors to the sump conduit 95. This causes the pistons of the motors, and in turn the spindles 24, 25 and the chucks 20, 21 carried thereby to move toward the log to be cut.

The closing contacts 103, 104 of switch 100 simultaneously with the closing of the contacts 101, 102 thereof established a circuit from the line 105 through wire and operating solenoids 131 of relay 132 to line 110, actuating the relay to close its normally open contacts 133 and establish a circuit from the line 105 through the wire 134 and solenoids 135, 136 of valves 91, 92 to line 110. The solenoids 135, 136 are in parallel circuit with one another between the wire 134 and the line 110.

Energization of the solenoids 135, 136 shifts the valves 91, 92 toward the right as viewed in FIG. 4, connecting the pressure fluid supply conduit 88 to the conduits 137, 138, leading to the left and right-hand ends, that is, the outer end, of the motors E, E, respectively. Simultaneously, the opposite ends of the motors are connected to the sump conduit 95 by the conduits 140, 141, respectively. This causes the motors to move the spindles 26, 27 and in turn the chucks 22, 23 carried thereby toward the log.

After the log has been properly chucked between both pairs of chucks the push button switch 100 is released, the'valves return to their normal closed position. The spindle drive is thereafter connected to rotate the spindles and the cutting operation commenced. The closing of the valves prevents the liquid in the outer ends of the motors from escaping thus the chucks are maintained in engagement with the log until the motors are reversed.

The cutting operation is continued until the diameter of the log closely approaches that of the larger chucks 20, 21, whereupon the operator depressed the large spindles out push button switch to close its normally open contacts 151, 152, establishing a circuit from the line 105 through wire 153 and operating solenoid 154 of relay 155 to line 110. Energization of the operating solenoid 154 of relay 155 actuates the relay to close its normally open contacts 156 and establish a circuit from the line 105, through wire 157 and solenoids 160, 161 of valves 90, 93 to line 110. The solenoids 160, 161 of valves 90, 93 are in parallel circuit with one another between the wire 134 and the line 110 and the energization thereof simultaneously shifts the valves to the left and right, respectively, as viewed in FIG. 4 connecting the pressure conduit 88 to the conduits 117, 118 leading to the inner ends of the motors C, D and C, D, causing the motors to withdraw the spindles 24, 25 into their quills and the chucks 20, 21 carried thereby from the log being cut. The operator maintains the push button switch 180 depressed until the chucks 20, 21 have been retracted the desired distance.

The lathe continues to operate with the log being held by the small chucks 22, 23. When the knife approaches closely to these chucks the operator depresses the small spindles out push button switch 165 to close its normally open contacts 166, 167. This establishes a circuit from the line 105 through wire 168 and operating solenoid 170 of relay 171 to line 110. The energization of the operating solenoid 170 of relay 171 actuates the relay to close its normally open contacts 172, 173. The closing of contacts 172 establishes a circuit from the line 105 through the now closed contacts 172 of relay 171, wire 174 and operating solenoids 175, 176 of valves 91, 92.

, The solenoids 175, 176 of valves 91, 92 are in parallel circuit with one another between the wire 174 and the line 110 and the energization thereof shifts the valves to the left as viewed in FIG. 4, connecting the pressure supply conduit 88 to the conduits 141 141 leading to the inner ends of the motors E, E, respectively, and the sump conduit 95 to the conduits 137, 138 leading to the opposite ends of the motors. This causes the motors E, E, to retract the spindles 26, 27 and the chucks 22, 23 carried thereby to release the core of the log remaining in the lathe.

Contacts 173 of relay 171 are in parallel circuit with the contacts 156 of relay 155 between the line 195 and the wire 157 and the closing thereof energizes solenoids 160, 161 of the valves 90, 93 to retract the spindles 24, 25 if they are not then retracted as in some events the chucks 22, 23 carried by the spindles 26, 27 may not be such that they can be retracted beyond the chucks 20, 21 carried by the spindles 24, 25.

The reference character 18f] designates an all spindles out push button switch which, when depressed, causes all of the spindles to move in a direction away from the log. This switch has a pair of contacts 181, 182 in parallel circuit with the contacts 151, 152 of push button switch 150 and a pair of contacts 183, 184 in parallelcircuit with the contacts 166, 167 of push button switch 165. When the push button switch 180 is depressed it is equivalent to simultaneously depressing the push button switches 150, 165 and the circuits established are the same and will not be redescribed.

The reference character 1% designates a small spindles in push button switch having a pair of contacts 191,

192 in parallel circuit with the normally open contacts 103, 104 of all spindles in push button switch 100. When this switch is depressed the operating solenoids 135, 136 for valves 91, 92 are energized causing the valves to shift to the position wherein the pressure supply conduit 88 is connected to the conduits 137, 138 leading to the outer ends of the motors E, E.

The all spindles in push button switch 104), the large spindles out push button switch 150, the small spindles out push button switch 165, the all spindles out push button switch 130 and the small spindles in push button switch 190 may be located at any convenient place about the machine, as for example, on a control station suspended by a flexible support and movable from one position to another. As previously stated the spindles may all be moved in and/ or out independently of one another, if desired. As an alternative arrangement, the spindles at one end of the lathe may be reciprocated independently of the spindles at the other end of the lathe by separating the electric controls for the solenoid valves which control the fluid actuated means at the respective ends of the lathe, or the spindles at one end of the lathe may be 'reciprocated by mechanical means by substituting such means for the hydraulic means shown in the preferred embodiment.

While in the preferred embodiment shown the solenoid valves are controlled by manually actuated push button switches, one or more of the switch means for controlling the actuation of the solenoid valves may be automatically operated in response to movement of one or more parts of the lathe. The switch means which cause retraction of the large spindles and/or the switch means which effects retraction of the small chucks, for example, may be operated in response to movement of the knife carriage toward the axis of rotation of the spindles, that is, when the carriage has progressed to a predetermined position with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindles, a trip thereon can actuate switch means to retract the large spindles and when the carriage has progressed to a predetermined position closer to the axis of rotation of the spindle either the same or a different trip can actuate second switch means to retract the samll spindles and drop the core log.

From the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a veneer lathe which is extremely simple and convenient to operate from any desired position about the lathe. While the present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and modifications thereof referred to and it is the intention to cover hereby all adaptations, modifications and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a veneer lathe, a frame, spaced axially aligned quills rotatably supported in said frame, power means' for rotating said quills, a first pair of axially aligned spindles slidably but nonrotatably supported in said quills, members projecting radially of the outer ends of each of said first pair of spindles, first and second pairs of reciprocating-type double acting fluid pressure actuated motor means operatively connected to said members, respectively, atopposite sides of their connections with said spindles of said first pair of spindles for reciprocating said spindles of said first pair within said quills toward and from one another, a second pair of axially aligned spindles slidably but nonrotatably supported in said first pair of spindles, a third pair of reciprocatingtype double acting fluid pressure actuated motor means operatively connected to the outer ends of said second spindles, solenoid operated valve means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid pressure to and from opposite ends of said fluid pressure actuated motor means, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the outer ends of all of said pairs of fluid pressure actuated motor means to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to connect the inner ends of said first and second pairs of fluid pressure actuated motor means to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust whereby said first pair of spindles are moved away from one another, and discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to connect the inner ends of said third pair of fluid pressure actuated motors to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust whereby said second pair of spindles are moved away from one another.

2. In a veneer lathe, a frame, spaced axially aligned quills rotatably supported in said frame, power means for rotating said quills, a first pair of axially aligned spindles slidably but nonrotatably supported in said quills, a first pair of reciprocating-type double acting fluid pressure actuated means operatively connected to the outer ends of said first pair of spindles for reciprocating said spindles of said first pair within said quills toward and from one another, a second pair of axially aligned spindles slidably but nonrotatably supported in said first type of spindles, a second pair of reciprocating-type double acting fluid pressure actuated means operatively connected to the outer ends of said second pair of spindles for reciprocating said spindles of said second pair within said first pair of spindles toward and from one another, solenoid operated means for selectively controlling the flow of fluid pressure to and from opposite ends of said fluid pressure actuated means, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the outer ends of both of said pairs of fluid pressure actuated means to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof with exhaust, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the inner ends of said fluid pressure actuated means connected to said first pair of spindles to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust whereby said first pair of spindles are moved away from one another, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the inner ends of said fluid pressure actuated means connected to said second pair of spindles to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust whereby said second pair of spindles are moved away from one another, discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the outer ends of said fluid pressure actuated means connected to said second pair of spindles to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof to exhaust whereby said second pair of spindles are moved toward one another, and discrete electric switch means for selectively actuating said valve means to simultaneously connect the inner ends of both of said pairs of fluid actuated means to a source of fluid pressure and the opposite ends thereof with exhaust.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1955 Peterson 143--l68.6 X 1/1959 Latimer l44209 

1. IN A VENEER LATHE, A FRAME, SPACED AXIALLY ALIGNED QUILLS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID FRAME, POWER MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID QUILLS, A FIRST PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED SPINDLES SLIDABLY BUT NONROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID QUILLS, MEMBERS PROJECTING RADIALLY OF THE OUTER ENDS OF EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF SPINDLES, FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF RECIPROCATING-TYPE DOUBLE ACTING FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBERS, RESPECTIVELY, AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH SAID SPINDLES OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF SPINDLES FOR RECIPROCATING SAID SPINDLES OF SAID FIRST PAIR WITHIN SAID QUILLS TOWARD AND FROM ONE ANOTHER, A SECOND PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED SPINDLES SLIDABLY BUT NONROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN SAID FIRST PAIR OF SPINDLES, A THIRD PAIR OF RECIPROCATINGTYPE DOUBLE ACTING FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID SECOND SPINDLES, SOLENOID OPERATED VALVE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID PRESSURE TO AND FROM OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS, DISCRETE ELECTRIC SWITCH MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID VALVE MEANS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CONNECTED THE OUTER ENDS OF ALL OF SAID PAIRS OF FLUID PRESSURE ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS TO A SOURCAE OF FLUID PRESSURE AND THE OPPOSITE ENDS 